All states have traffic laws that require motor vehicles on public highways, streets, roads, and driveways to have a rear license plate or tag—and most states also require a license plate on the front of a motor vehicle.

States usually require the license plates or vehicle registration to be renewed periodically—often annually and in connection with payment of a motor vehicle tax or inspection of the vehicle for safety and compliance with emissions standards.

In some states tickets or citations for no front or rear license plate or for expired plates/tags on your vehicle are known as fix-it tickets and the ticket or citation will indicate that it is a correctable violation of traffic laws. If you fix the missing-or-expired license plate problem within the required period and get the signature of an authorized person (a local police officer) the court may dismiss the ticket.

But if you fail to fix the missing-or-expired-tags problem within the required period you must pay the fine for the violation and you may be issued another ticket that will be part of your driving record. And if you fail to pay the ticket or appear in court on the hearing date the court may issue a warrant for your arrest.

In Utah, motor vehicles are required to have a rear license plate, and most vehicles are also mandated to have a front license plate. Utah Code Section 41-1a-404 outlines the requirements for the display of license plates. Vehicle registration and license plates must be renewed periodically, which typically involves a fee and may include a vehicle safety inspection and emissions testing, as per Utah Code Section 41-1a-215. Failure to display a current and valid license plate can result in a citation, which may be considered a 'fix-it' ticket. This type of ticket allows the vehicle owner to correct the issue by a specified deadline and have the citation signed off by an authorized person, such as a police officer, to potentially have the ticket dismissed. However, if the issue is not corrected within the required timeframe, the vehicle owner must pay the fine, and the violation may be recorded on their driving record. Ignoring the ticket or failing to appear in court can lead to further penalties, including the issuance of an arrest warrant.